Nigel gets one back on Diesel with his bag of tricks - and declares ‘he’s a machine’

Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley is reaching deep into his bag of tricks to get the better of giant galloper Lincoln Springs.

And judging by big Diesel’s improvement at today’s Avondale trials, it’s working.

After refusing to go into the gates at first the Waipa trials and then the Avondale trials, Lincoln Springs was back at the same track today for a third attempt.

But this time Tiley had a two-step game plan to help the three-year-old.

Tiley switched Diesel to a low energy diet recently so he isn’t so frisky and he engaged the help of Auckland starter Brendan ‘Scooter’ Sargent to try to put him at ease.

Sargent came up with the plan of stationing a clerk of the course in front of Diesel’s gate so he could see another horse and wouldn’t be so reticent going into the barriers.

It took Diesel one minute and 38 seconds to consent to go into the inside stall so Tiley isn’t sure whether it helped or not.

“But it didn’t do any harm that’s for sure and there’s a box of beers coming for the gate boys - they do a great job.”

Diesel jumped with his four rivals and, following Tiley’s instructions, rider Dean Parker hugged the rails, when his rivals shifted wider on the track in the straight for better footing.

Trainer Nigel Tiley … “today was all about education, we weren’t after any prizes.”“Today was all about education, we weren’t after any prizes, but he went very well.”

Without being ridden out, Lincoln Springs maintained a solid gallop right to the line, losing out in a photo finish by a head to an unnamed Alex Oliveira-trained Smart Missile gelding.

What Tiley liked even more was that Diesel cruised away out in front after the line.

“And when another horse came alongside him in the back straight, Dean had a lot of trouble pulling Diesel up, he grabbed the bridle again and wanted to race it.”

Tiley is now keen to see what the horse can do back on a regular diet and will put him back through the barriers one more time at home, with Sargent’s help, with a higher protein feed in him to make sure it doesn’t “blow him apart” on raceday.

“Changing their feed is an old trick you can use so you’re not fighting them - you want them to have a good experience, not be bullying them.”

Tiley believes Lincoln Springs is “just being a lad” rather than having some gate phoebia - “he’s pushing boundaries like a little kid but he’s actually a very big kid.

“He was winning the battle for a while but it looks like we’re winning the war. It’s two to one to him now but hopefully it will be two all next time.”

Safely through his last private test, Tiley will look for a race for the horse in the next few weeks as he’s now qualified to race, with the caveat that he’s on the early loading list.

Tiley believes Lincoln Springs is worth waiting for, judging by the way he dealt to a jumpout field recently and his gallop today.

“He’s a machine and I think we’ve really got something to look forward to here.”

Lincoln King showed staying promise, winning at Avondale last April. PHOTO: Race Images.Earlier, improving stayer Lincoln King continued his preparation for a new campaign in an open 1200 metre heat.

The horse got back under rider Craig Grylls and was twice hampered in the run home when looking to run on, beating only one home.

“He didn’t get a lot of room,” said trainer Stephen Marsh. “But Craig didn’t knock him around at all and that will bring him on nicely and get him a bit fitter.

‘I’ll take him back to the races now and run him over a mile. He’ll need the run but second-up over a mile he might give a bit of cheek. Eventually we’ll get him up to a more suitable 2000 metres.

“I think he’s coming up well - he just didn’t appreciate the really heavy conditions today - they were similar to his last run at Awapuni (in May) when he didn’t go well.”